Is Christopher Eccleston Joining 'Game of Thrones'?

Now here's one casting rumor to get many a 'Game of Thrones' fan all a-quiver: Christopher Eccleston is said to be eyeing a major role in Season 2.

According to Blastr.com, the 'Doctor Who' and 'Elizabeth' star could be in the running to play the late King Robert's younger brother, the oft-mentioned but as yet unseen Lord Stannis Baratheon.

The brooding Stannis is, according to Lord Eddard Stark, the rightful heir to the Iron Throne and the Seven Kingdoms.

Production on the second season of 'GoT' is slated to get underway in Northern Ireland at the end of July and producers are continuing to cast roles. Last week 'The Tudors' star Natalie Dormer was confirmed as Margaery Tyrell.

The character of Stannis Baratheon first appears in the second 'GoT' novel by George R.R. Martin, 'A Clash of Kings.' Unlike the jovial Time Lord Eccleston portrayed in the 2005 resurrection of 'Doctor Who,' Stannis is painted as a humorless man with a hard and unyielding sense of justice.

Sounds like a perfect fit for the classically trained Eccleston who has taken on plenty of complex, challenging roles in his time. Plus, adding an actor of his stature to the series could help to fill the giant, Sean Bean-sized hole in the casting lineup.

If Eccleston does sign up for 'GoT' there's one other role that he could perhaps tackle: Stannis Baratheon's rival, Balon Greyjoy, Theon Greyjoy's father and the Lord of the Iron Islands.

Another 'Doctor Who' alum is also rumored to be joining 'GoT.' Scottish actor Tony Curran ('The Pillars of the Earth'), who played Vincent Van Gogh in the 2010 episode, 'Vincent and the Doctor' is reportedly being considered for a -- as yet unspecified -- role.

The 'GoT' casting rumor mill is bound to be working overtime for the next few weeks as casting is finalized and shooting gets underway. Stay tuned for more updates.

And please, please: No spoilers in 'Comments' about what happens in the books beyond the story lines we saw in Season 1.

My preference would be Kevin McKidd but Eccleston is a good choice as well. My understanding however is that Eccleston never commits to doing more than one season on a show and this would be a multi-season deal. Then again, Stannis isn't around all that much in the second book-although his presence is felt very keenly so there is that. If Eccleston is Stannis, however, it begs the question of who they are going to cast in the role of the Onion Knight.

I would love to see Eccleston in as Stannis. My question is: will the filming schedule conflict with the schedule for the filming of The Borrowers. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2011/06_june/20/borrowers.shtml)

Tony Curren as Jaquen is interesting.. . I was kind of hoping that they would cast him as Edmure Tully.